[AT] Tire ballast - antifreeze wins

Sun Sep 5 14:20:57 PDT 2004

We took a trip to Akron, Ohio soon after posting the original note, so I
haven't been around to answer any comments.  Antifreeze in the first drum
tested to -40F (or was it -50?) - it floated all 5 balls in the tester so it
was really potent stuff.  Didn't test the second one, it looked a little
greener than the first, but that just might have been cleaner.  I guess we
tend to make sure we have plenty of protection in our cars around here!

I have one of the fancy transfer valves, but because of the way I was
transferring there should have been a shutoff valve between it and the
pressure line from the drum.  Then it could work as advertised.  I just used
it for the adapters.

When I started transferring liquid, I was extremely cautious on the first
few pressurizations.  Most of the transfer took place at 3 to 3.5 PSI.  I
inched up to 5 PSI at the start of the second drum as it was nearly full and
had little room for air.  Figured the worse it would do is make a mess, and
I really wanted to see what it would take.  I don't know what the drums will
really take since grandpappy never let me real close to the still when I was
really young :-).  Figured 3-5 PSI had to be pretty safe considering the
shock and g forces that these have to take in normal handling and
transportation.  Your sensibilities and tolerance for experimentation may
vary.

I understand the concern for pets, but my tractors spend most of their lives
locked in the barn.  If a mouse drinks some, it saves on the costs of
Warfarin.  The tires are all in excellent shape and there is very little
danger of them leaking any time soon.  It is another risk that I consciously
assume.
Carl Gogol
Manlius, NY
(2) AC D-14, AC 914H
Simplicity 3112 & 7116
Kubota F-2400

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CEE VILL" <cvee60 at hotmail.com>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 04, 2004 8:16 AM
Subject: RE: [AT] Tire ballast - antifreeze wins

> Sure sounds like a good deal, Carl.  How strong did the waste anti freeze
> test???  Probably at least 20 or 30 below?
>
> Charlie V.
>
>
> >From: "carl gogol" <cgogol at twcny.rr.com>
> >Reply-To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> ><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> >To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> >Subject: [AT] Tire ballast - antifreeze wins
> >Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 20:12:16 -0400
> >
> >Last winter I solicited opinions from the list concerning tire ballast.
I
> >finally took the plunge yesterday and decided that I had enough time to
do
> >the job.  I called up a local junkyard, er recycler, and asked him how
much
> >for 90 gallons of old antifreeze solution.  He asked me what it was for
and
> >when I told him he commented that, "you don't need good stuff - come and
> >get
> >it - for free"!   I noticed quite a bit of oil on the surface of the mix,
> >so
> >I made up a simple extraction / separation tool with a 3/4" pipe tee,
using
> >both a Schrader valve for pressurizing the barrel and a tube from 1/2"
> >CPVC,
> >boring the normal male pipe adapter so the tube could pass through the
TEE
> >to within about 4" of the bottom of the drum.  This way I could pump the
AF
> >from under the oil by slightly pressuring the 55 gallon drum.  I found
the
> >drums could take at least 5 PSI and then pushed the AF into the tubes.  I
> >had to disconnect and let the air out of the tractor's tube 4-5 times to
> >get
> >the level to 80% full.  A bit time consuming, but got them both full in
> >about 3 hours.  Got a system down and the second one took half as long as
> >the first.
> >
> >Tried the tractor using the loader and it easily pushed the 6' blade into
a
> >pile of rocks and sod, digging a good bucket load that it just wouldn't
> >have
> >been able to do before.  I'm sure Calcium would have done a little more,
> >but
> >this is a huge improvement.  I may go get another 2 drums and fill the
> >other
> >D-14 and then take the steel wheel weights and put them on the loader
> >tractor too.  I think that will result in a very satisfactory loader
> >tractor.
> >
> >Only one bit of excitement, when I repressurized the first tire, I was
sure
> >the valve stem was leaking.  After  putting some air in, there was a
> >hissing
> >sound.  At first it was very depressing as I thought I would have to take
> >it
> >all out and get a new tube.  I put some more air in and again it all
leaked
> >out.  I put some more in and it too hissed out!  I put 11 PSI in and it
> >stopped leaking --- It was just air trapped between the tube and the rim
> >pushing out through the valve stem hole in the rim!  The second tire did
> >exactly the same thing - it didn't panic me this time.
> >Carl Gogol
> >Manlius, NY
> >(2) AC D-14, AC 914H
> >Simplicity 3112 & 7116
> >Kubota F-2400
> >Carl Gogol
> >Manlius, NY
> >(2) AC D-14, AC 914H
> >Simplicity 3112 & 7116
> >Kubota F-2400
> >
> >
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